Aircraft beacon device on wind power installations

ABSTRACT

The object of the invention is to improve a flight warning light arrangement of wind power installations and in particular to make the operation thereof as effect as possible. 
     Disclosed is a flight warning light arrangement for a wind power installation, comprising at least one light means which is mounted on the wind power installation, wherein there is provided a device for detecting the brightness value, for example a twilight switch which detects the level of daytime brightness in the area around the wind power installation, and the device for detecting the brightness value is connected to a switching device which evaluates the measured data and switches on the flight warning light arrangement when the brightness value falls below a given value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a flight warning light arrangement on abuilding of great height, preferably a pylon of a wind powerinstallation, comprising at least one light means and at least oneswitching device which switches the light means.

2. Description of the Related Art

Depending on their respective location and the requirements of therespective authorities buildings as from a certain height must beequipped with what is known as a night identification or a flightwarning light arrangement for aircraft safety. With a total height(rotor blade in the 12 o'clock position) of below 100 m the nightidentification system comprises a so-called hazard light while with atotal height of over 100 m a so-called danger light is required.

A hazard warning light arrangement usually comprises two light means(two light units) which are permanently lit at night while the dangerlight has two flashing lights (and two reserve lights) which lightalternately in a predetermined rhythm. The light strength of a dangerlight is a multiple greater than that of a hazard light. An emergencypower supply must also be provided depending on the respectiverequirements involved.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to improve a flight warning lightarrangement of wind power installations and in particular to make theoperation thereof more effective.

In accordance with the invention there is proposed a flight warninglight arrangement which preferably has the following features which canbe implemented alone or cumulatively.

First of all it is meaningful for the hazard light arrangement but alsothe danger light arrangement to be activated only when the overallenvironment has assumed a given brightness value. Such brightness valuecan be detected by a twilight switch which is set to a predeterminedbrightness value and the flight warning light arrangement is activatedwhen the brightness value reaches, namely, falls below, a given value.

Such a twilight switch makes it possible to avoid unnecessarilyswitching on the flight warning light arrangement so that the overallservice life of the light means is prolonged, while an adequate level ofsafety is always still guaranteed.

A further configuration of the invention provides that the wind powerinstallation is equipped with a visibility measuring device. Thatmeasuring device makes it possible to detect the visibility range, whichis desirable in particular in mist or fog or other disadvantageousweather conditions,such as heavy rain. If the visibility measuringdevice detects that the visibility has fallen below a threshold levelvisibility range. Further, this threshold level of the criticalvisibility range can be adjusted, the flight warning light arrangementis also activated so as always to afford sufficient building safety.

If a plurality of wind power installations are erected together, whichis generally the case in wind parks, and if those wind powerinstallations have to be equipped with a danger lighting arrangement byvirtue of their great height, it is often very disturbing/irritating forair and automobile traffic if the danger lights on each individual windpower installation flash at different times (that is to say are switchedon and off respectively). For that purpose the invention provides forthe implementation of a synchronization device, by means of which theflashing lights are synchronized in such a way that all flashing lightsof all wind power installations of a wind park flash (that is to saytherefore are switched on and off) at the same time. In that respectsynchronization can be effected by way of radio and/or data signals andthe synchronization device can comprise a data processing device which,coupled to a timer, generates the switch-on and switch-off signals forthe flashing lights, so that the intended aim is attained.

A flight warning light arrangement must be designed to be so safe inrelation to a wind power installation that it is still operational evenwhen the entire wind power installation is taken off the electricalnetwork or the rotor of the wind power installation is stationary.Therefore, there is proposed an emergency power supply device for a windpower installation and the flight warning light arrangement thereof sothat the flight warning light arrangement can be maintained at least fora night. For that purpose, in the case of the wind power installationthere is provided a (preferably air-conditioned) switch cabinet, inwhich all the control devices for the flight warning light arrangementare arranged and in addition also batteries or accumulators which supplythe necessary energy for the flight warning light arrangement. Thosebatteries or accumulators are preferably absolutely maintenance-free.

For a plurality of wind power installations of a wind park it is alsopossible to provide a central switch cabinet for emergency power for andcontrol of the flight warning light arrangement.

The flight warning light arrangement controls not only the respectiveflight warning lighting (hazard lighting, danger light) but in additionalso monitors any trouble in various items of equipment such as failureof the supply voltage, failure of a lamp, trouble with the twilightswitch, trouble with batteries or the charging device for charging upthe accumulators, trouble with the air conditioning of the switchcabinet, failure of the visibility measurement arrangement (if such isprovided) and trouble with synchronization (only in relation to dangerlighting).

If such a fault message is established, it is automatically transmittedto a central station by way of the connection to the installationcontrol system. The fault message can be transmitted to the centralstation by means of fax, SMS, or also e-mail.

The danger light arrangement comprises two main lights and two reservelights respectively. The light strength of the flashes is more than 1600cd/flash. The flashes are in a housing of protective kind IP 67. Thelight means here is a xenon flash tube with a rated life of about2,000,000 flashes (corresponds to about 12 months).

If a main flashing light fails the arrangement is automatically switchedover to the redundant second system, which contains a reserve light anda fault message is sent to the central station.

The hazard light arrangement comprises two hazard lights and ispreferably equipped with light means comprising LEDs. The light meansare disposed in a housing of protective kind IP 67. As the operatingtime of the above-described hazard lights is recorded no redundantsystem is required with this structure. The use of LED light meansprovides that current consumption is very low and the operating life ofat least 10 years is very long.

A further aspect of the invention provides that particularly in relationto building sites, for example for wind power installations, on whichthe pylon of the wind power installation is already erected but themachine housing, the rotor, the generator and the electricalinstallations are not yet present, there is no flight warning lightarrangement although the pylon certainly constitutes a flight hazard ora danger point.

In accordance with the invention, to resolve that problem, there isproposed a flight warning light arrangement which has a transportableenergy supply. Such an autonomous energy supply which is independent ofa fixed installation means that any building if required can be equippedwith a flight warning light arrangement. That permits the building to beidentified, which is required in the interests of flight safety, evenwhen a power supply to the building has not yet been made.

In preferred developments of the invention a flight warning lightarrangement according to the invention can have the following featureswhich can be implemented alone or in combinations.

The use of twilight switches means that the possible operating time canbe prolonged.

Accumulators and/or capacitors, for example of the ‘Ultracap’ type canbe envisaged as the energy storage means. To supplement the supply ofenergy it is possible to provide for example photovoltaic modules and/ora transportable generator with a rotor for the conversion of wind powerinto electrical energy. Both the photovoltaic module and also thegenerator admittedly supply only a limited amount of energy, but thiscan be continuously fed into the energy storage means for example by wayof a suitable control such as a charge regulator, and taken therefrom asrequired. Thus, theoretically operation which is unlimited in respect oftime is possible with a suitable design configuration for the energystorage means.

In order to increase the service life of accumulators and to avoid verydeep discharging thereof, it is preferably possible to provide aso-called accumulator monitor which, when a predeterminable lowerterminal voltage of the accumulator or accumulators is reached, preventsenergy from being taken therefrom.

Besides monitoring the individual components, it is possible to providea device which in the event of a fault sends a fault message for exampleto a predetermined central station. Such a device preferably includes aGSM module which for example by way of a radio communication can send ashort message (SMS) which draws the attention of the recipient to thefault.

In addition it is possible to provide a transportation container inwhich the individual components of the flight warning light arrangementsuch as accumulators, switching device, GSM module, charge regulator,accumulator monitor and so forth are disposed. In that respect thelights can preferably be disposed on the top of the transportationarrangement so that the entire flight warning light arrangementaccording to the invention can be handled as a unit.

In a particularly preferred feature also provided in the transportationcontainer are holders for the parts of the flight warning lightarrangement which in operation are necessarily disposed outside thecontainer, such as for example the photovoltaic module and/or thegenerator, so that those parts, for transportation, are also disposed inthe transportation container and therefore cannot be lost.

In that respect the generator and/or the photovoltaic module, duringoperation, can be fixed to the transportation container or, removedtherefrom, can be fixed to appropriate locations at the tip of the windpower installation pylon. That fixing can again be effected by way ofsuitable holders (flanges).

If the transportation container is of a sufficient height the lightsduring transportation can also be stowed in the container so that on theone hand they are not lost and on the other hand they are also protectedfrom damage. For that purpose the top of the container is advantageouslydesigned in such a way that it sealingly closes the container, both withthe lights mounted thereon facing upwardly and also with the lightsmounted thereon facing downwardly, and thus reliably protects theinterior of the container from the influences of the weather.

In order to implement simple handling, the electrical connection betweenthe switching device or the change-over switching arrangement ispreferably made by a releasable cable connection. In that respect thecable connection is preferably releasable on the switching device withone or more connectors.

The upper cover of the transportation container, on which cover thelights are provided, has a compartment which accommodates the connectingcable between the lights and the switching device. That compartment canhave a cover which closes the compartment in the transportation positionof the top of the container, with lights projecting into the container.

For synchronization of a plurality of flight warning light arrangements,they can have a radio receiver which receives signals from a centraltransmitter such as the DCF transmitter of the ‘PhysikalischTechnischeBundesanstalt’ [Physics-Technical Federal Institute] and atpredetermined moments in time which can be derived from the radiosignal, triggers given switching procedures such as flashing pulses forthe lights. It will be appreciated that, as an alternative to a DCFreceiver, a plurality of spatially adjacent flight warning lightarrangements can also be controlled by way of radio signals from apredeterminable transmitting station such as for example a masterinstallation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view and a side view of a wind power installationwith a hazard or danger light according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a transportable energy sourceaccording to the invention for supplying energy to a flight warninglight arrangement,

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a transportable energy sourceaccording to the invention, and

FIG. 4 shows a detail view of a cover of a transportation container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front and side view respectively of a windpower installation 4 with a flight warning light arrangement 6 accordingto the invention. That flight warning light arrangement 6 arranged onthe pod.

When the lights are in the form of danger lights they flash between 20and 60 times per minute. Their switch-on time during the flashing phaseis longer than the dark phase. It is also possible to use red flashinglights. The flashing frequency is to be between 20 and 60 times perminute. Moreover a hazard or danger light has to comply with theDirectives for the Identification of Aviation Hazards of the FederalMinistry for Traffic, Building and Housing of Dec. 22, 1999 (DangerLight Order).

FIG. 2 shows a transportation container 20 with a switching device 22 inwhich a light monitoring arrangement can be integrated. The switchingdevice 22 operates lights 10 in a predeterminable manner which can bepredetermined for example by fixed wiring or by a microprocessorcontrol. The switching device can also be influenced by externalsignals. They can originate from a twilight switch 24.

Such a twilight switch 24 is provided in order to influence the flightwarning light arrangement according to the invention, in dependence onambient brightness. That influencing effect can be to provide forswitching the flight warning light arrangement on and off, at a givenlevel of ambient brightness.

The power supply for the entire flight warning light arrangement isafforded by an energy storage means 26 which can be formed fromaccumulators and/or capacitors or the like. The energy storage means 26can be fed by a generator for converting wind power into electricalenergy 28 and/or a photovoltaic module 29 which are connected by way ofa charge regulator 30 to the energy storage means 26. The chargeregulator 30 provides for charging the accumulators or capacitors withsuitable voltages and currents.

The generator 28 and the photovoltaic module 29 are of such dimensionsthat they can be disposed in the transportation container 20 fortransportation of the flight warning light arrangement. In that way theyare protected from damage during transportation and cannot become lostso that all components of the flight warning light arrangement arealways present.

In FIG. 2 mounted on the transportation container 20 are two respectivepairs of lights 10 of which one is the main pair of lights and the otheris the reserve pair of lights. Also disposed on the transportationcontainer 20 is an antenna 34 connected to a GSM module 32 disposed inthe container. In the case of faults for example suitable fault messagescan be sent to predetermined receivers by way of that GSM module 32.

In order to permit fixing of the flight warning light arrangementaccording to the invention to the pylon, provided on the transportationcontainer 20 are fixing flanges 40 by which it can be fixed with screwsto the pylon.

The electrical connection between the switching device 22 and the lights10 is made by cables 12. The cables 12 are preferably releasable on theswitching device 22 so that the cover of the transportation container 20with the lights 10 mounted thereon, including the electricalconnections, can be completely released from the transportationcontainer 20.

For transportation of the flight warning light arrangement the top withthe lights 10 mounted thereon can then be fitted on to thetransportation container 20 in such a way that the lights 10 aredisposed in the interior of the transportation container 20. In thatinstallation condition of the top the cables 12 are now at the outsideof the transportation container 20. In order to protect the cables 12they can be stowed in a compartment 8 which is closable with a cover 9.

FIG. 3 substantially corresponds to FIG. 2. The difference is that herea change-over switching device 23 is provided. The change-over switchingdevice 23 receives the signals for actuation of the lights 10 from theswitching device 22 and passes them on to the lights 10. The change-overswitching device 22 is further influenced by the twilight switch 24. Inthat respect the change-over switching device is controlled in such away that, in dependence on the level of ambient brightness, a respectiveone of the two pairs of lights 10 is supplied with the signals from theswitching device 22.

If the arrangement has lights 10 of varying colors, for example redlights for night time illumination and white lights for daytimeillumination, the twilight switch 24 can alternatively be used toprovide for switching over between daytime and night time illumination,in dependence on the level of ambient brightness. It will be appreciatedthat the change-over switching device required for switching overbetween daytime illumination and night time illumination can beintegrated into the switching device 22.

FIG. 4 shows a detail view of a possible way of laying the cables. Thecables 12 are mounted to the lights 10. In operation the flap 9 whichfaces into the transportation container is open and the cables 12 can beconnected to the switching device 22 or the change-over switching device23.

For transportation of the flight warning light arrangement the cover isturned in such a way that the lights 10 face downwardly (into thetransportation container). The cables 12 which are now at the top sideare then unprotected if they are not accommodated in the compartment 8.In order to prevent damage to the cables 12 they can be laid within adouble-shell cover, and issue from the cover in the region of thecovering for the compartment 9 and be taken to the switching device 22or the change-over switching device 23.

For transportation purposes the cables 12 can be stowed in thecompartment 8. In that case the cover 9 which during transportation ison the outside of the transportation container can protect thecompartment 8 and the interior of the double-shell cover fromcontamination and damage.

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entirety.

From the forgoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except by the appended claims.

1. A flight warning light arrangement of a wind power installationcomprising: at least one light means; a device for detecting abrightness value in the area around the flight warning lightarrangement; a switching device, being connected to the device fordetecting the brightness value, for evaluating a measured data of thedevice for detecting the brightness value, and for switching on at leastone of the light means when the brightness value falls below a givenvalue, wherein at least one of the light means are in the form offlashing lights; and a synchronization device for controling the lightmeans and for providing a synchronization signal to at least one otherflight warning light arrangement in a proximity of said flight warninglight arrangement such that at least one of the light means of theflight warning light arrangement and a light means of at least one otherflight warning light arrangement are switched on and off at the sametime.
 2. A flight warning light arrangement according to claim 1,characterized in that there is provided a visiblity measuring device, bymeans of which the light means are activated when a measured visibilityvalue falls below a predetermined range.
 3. A flight warning lightarrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the light meansare in the form of flashing lights and that there is provided asynchronization device which controls the light means in such a way thatthe light means of the flight warning light arraignment and also a lightmeans comprised of other flashing lights in the proximity are switchedon and off respectively at the same time.
 4. A flight warning lightarrangement according to claim 3 characterized in that thesynchronization device controls at least one other flight warning lightarrangements by at least one of a radio signal and a data signalcontrol.
 5. A flight warning light arrangement, according to claim 1,characterized in that at least one of the light means comprises aplurality of light emitting diodes.
 6. A flight warning lightarrangement according to claim 1, characterized by a transportableenergy source for a supply of power to at least one of the light meansand the switching device.
 7. A flight warning light arrangementaccording to claim 6 characterized by an intermediate energy storagemeans which is coupleable to an energy-producing means.
 8. A flightwarning light arrangement according to claim 6 characterized by a GSMmodule for communication of fault messages.
 9. A flight warning lightarrangement according to claim 6 characterized in that at least one ofthe light means is fixable to a transportation container.
 10. A flightwarning light arrangement according to claim 9 characterized in that aheight of the transportation container is such that at least a height ofat least one of the light means remains free between the componentsinstalled in the transportation container and an edge of thetransportation container.
 11. A flight warning light arrangementaccording to claim 6 characterized in that at least one of the lightmeans is arranged separately from the transportation container duringoperation of the flight warning light arrangement.
 12. A flight warninglight arrangement according to claim 6 characterized by at least oneelectrical connection which is releasable on at least one side betweenat least one of the light means and the switching device or achange-over switching device.
 13. A flight warning light arrangementaccording to claim 6 characterized by a receiving compartment forcables.
 14. A flight warning light arrangement according to claim 1characterized in that at least one of the switching device and atwilight switch are combined with at least one of the light means.
 15. Aflight warning light arrangement according to claim 1 characterized inthat there are provided at least two light means of different colors.16. A flight warning light arrangement according to claim 15characterized by a change-over switching device which respectivelyconnects the light means of a same color to the switching device.
 17. Aflight warning light arrangement according to claim 16 characterized inthat a twilight switch co-operates with the change-over switchingdevice.
 18. A flight warning light arrangement according to claim 1characterized by a receiving device for radio signals, which co-operateswith at least one of a twilight switch and the switching device.
 19. Aflight warning light arrangement comprising: a transportable energysource; a transportation container for transportation of the energysource, the transportation container having at least one intermediateenergy storage means which is fed with an energy-producing means in theform of a generator for converting wind power into electrical energy ora photovoltaic module, wherein a charge regulator is connected betweenthe intermediate energy storage means and the energy-producing means,the flight warning light arrangement further having: one or more lightmeans; a device for detecting a brightness value in an area around theflight warning light arrangement; and a switching device connected tothe device for detecting the brightness value, for evaluating thebrightness value and for switching on at least one of the light meanswhen the brightness value falls below a given value and theenergy-producing means during the operation of the flight warning lightarrangement is fixed to the transportation container or removedtherefrom and is fixed to an appropriate locations at a tip of abuilding.